Sumskaya compared Astafieva's gesture during Radio Dictation to Yanukovych's act

Actress expressed dissatisfaction with the dictation's organisation

Natalia Sumskaya, who participated in reading the National Unity Radio Dictation in 2025, publicly criticised the decision to involve Dasha Astafieva in this year's event. On the air of the Kyiv 24 TV channel, the actress stated that the volunteer's selection was made with the aim of entertaining the audience.

According to Sumskaya, some participants of the dictation would have liked to see exclusively teacher Artur Proidakov at the microphone, who also participated in the event alongside Astafieva.

«Щоб потішити людей» ("To please the people"), — the actress explained the organisers' motives regarding the choice of Astafieva.

Reaction to criticism and comparison with Yanukovych

Particular attention on air was paid to Dasha Astafieva's behaviour at the end of the broadcast. The volunteer addressed the critics with the phrase «Встали і вийшли» ("They got up and left"), after which she demonstratively threw the pen she was holding onto the table.

Natalia Sumskaya called this gesture inappropriate and believes that it indicated that Astafieva was offended by the reprimands directed at her before the dictation was written.

«Це було занадто і не дуже дотепно, але людина не втрималася і викрила себе таким чином, що її все-таки дістали дорікання людей, які в переддень написання диктанту були адресовані їй. Я так сприйняла це» ("It was too much and not very witty, but the person could not hold back and revealed herself in such a way that she was indeed affected by the reprimands from people that were addressed to her on the eve of the dictation. That is how I perceived it"), — Sumskaya commented.

To illustrate her point, the actress recalled an episode from the life of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. After fleeing the country, he held a press conference to declare his legitimacy as head of state. At that time, he broke a pen in front of journalists. It was with this act that Sumskaya compared Astafieva's actions during the Radio Dictation.

Public reaction

It is worth noting that despite criticism from Sumskaya, Dasha Astafieva's participation in this year's National Unity Radio Dictation received predominantly positive feedback.